Not many things in life are certain. We might assume a friend or loved one will always be with us, but they could leave or die. Jobs are not assured either. Our boss could lay us off from work, or an entire industry could become obsolete. And who knows when a virus or chronic condition will catch us off guard. In situations like these, we face an unknown future that is out of our control.
Or we could be unsure of ourselves. Are we making the right decision about a career, relationship, or illness? Lots of us can struggle with self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy, leaving us wondering how to approach circumstances, tasks, or people. Even more than that, death could come at any moment. We are not promised the next year, week, or day.
Life might be uncertain, but there are things we can be certain of and take heart from knowing. Let’s look at five truths we can recall when we face uncertainty.
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1. God Remains the Same in Uncertain Times
Situations and people around us are constantly changing. We can feel as if nothing stays steady or consistent in the world. At times, chaos seems like the new normal in life. Yet, even as things shift around us, there is One who never changes. Scripture tells us,
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” - Hebrews 13:8
This is true because Jesus is God the Son, and God is always unchanging (Malachi 3:6). He is immutable in character and nature. We can find comfort in knowing that our Savior remains the same regardless of what may happen. He will continue to be the same loving, holy, kind, and just Lord that we have come to know and trust. No amount of uncertainty in life can change the fact that we have an eternal relationship with Him. In times of chaos and uncertainty, we can rest in the truth that God is God, no matter what.
2. The Lord is Reliable
There are times when we will feel unsure of our abilities and decisions. We will fret over what steps we should take going forward. However, God does not call us to trust in our abilities and wisdom. Through our weakness, inabilities, and lack of knowledge, God can work in us for His glory (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). We might not be confident in ourselves, but we can place our confidence in the Lord.
Interwoven in God’s immutable character is the assurance that He is reliable. If He does not change, then he will always be reliable. The Lord is consistent in all His ways. As the Amplified Bible explains in 1 Corinthians 1:9,
“God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We can trust Him. Let us stop looking to ourselves and others for answers or assurance during times of uncertainty. God is present in our difficulties and will not leave. We can rely on Him when everything and everyone else seems unsure, including ourselves. As Oswald Chambers said in his classic My Utmost for His Highest, “We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God.” In the chaotic whirl of life, we can cling to hope knowing that the Lord, who is the basis for our hope, is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). He is our anchor in a sea of uncertainty.
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3. Scripture Is a Source of Comfort and Guidance in Challenging Seasons
In the times we feel unsure of the way ahead, we can turn to the Bible. Many people in Scripture faced the unknown and found strength in God. Their examples can be a source of encouragement since we can see how others went through uncertainty with steadfast faith.
When reading Abraham’s experience, for example, we learn about his faith in God when the Lord called him to leave his family and homeland (Genesis 12:1-5). As Hebrews 11:8 says,
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." (NIV).
The same God who Abraham trusted is the same God who is with us now. By studying this passage, we, too, can find the strength to face uncertainty with faith. The Bible can also guide us through passages and stories. I experienced the help of Scripture when I felt conflicted about an opportunity to work as an intern with an organization. Multiple times during my prayers the Holy Spirit reminded me of the example of Jehoshaphat in Scripture. During his reign as king of Judah, Jehoshaphat cooperated and worked with Ahab (2 Chronicles 18:1-3). He did not stop to think if helping Ahab was pleasing to God. As a result, the Lord rebuked Jehoshaphat for his choice to assist the wicked and unbelieving Ahab (2 Chronicles 19:2).
Upon rereading this account and reflecting on Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 6:14, I knew I could not, in good conscience, participate in that internship because of specific areas of the organization’s work. The decision was costly as I had already invested time in searching, preparing, and interviewing for the position, but God’s Word gave me guidance and the courage to obey His direction. The steadying and comforting power of Scripture is helpful when we are unsure of the way ahead. It can serve as a compass, giving us direction and showing us what God wants us to do.
4. Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love
When we do not know what to do in life, many of our doubts center around making the wrong decision. We might think that the Lord will be displeased with what we decide or do. We fear that God’s love is on the line.
These doubts easily come when we face uncertainty, but they are not the final authority of what is true. The Bible teaches that God’s love is unconditional. We did nothing to warrant the Lord’s love for us, and we can do nothing to lose it. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (NLT). The Lord loved us even when we were in our sins which is why He sent His Son to save us (John 3:16).
If God’s love were based on conditions or works, then none of us would ever be good enough to earn it. We all make mistakes and wrong decisions. Yet that does not alter what God thinks about His children. During times when we face the unknown and are unsure of ourselves, our thoughts should turn to the wonderful message of the Bible:
“I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” - Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)
In Christ, we can trust that no matter how uncertain the future looks, God will continue to love us.
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5. Adversity Offers an Opportunity to Grow
The things we are unsure about often bring us the most anxiety and fear. “What if” questions pop into our heads keeping us awake at night. We would prefer to avoid such times, desiring peace and stability instead. However, we should not be quick to wish away times of uncertainty for they can be used by God to help us grow.
Situations and seasons in which we do not know what to do push us closer to God. We must rely on Him in the unknown, trusting that He will be with us and help us through. Uncertainty forces us out of our comfort zone, which is the perfect place for faith to grow (see James 1:2-4). We lean in more to God than our intellect or skills and choose to trust in the Lord’s faithfulness even though we do not know what the next day or period of life holds.
As Christians, we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). If we only stepped forward when we could know or see with certainty, we would not make it far in life. Sometimes, we must embrace uncertainty.
We will not know everything about the path ahead nor will we always feel certain, because only God knows the future and is completely perfect. What we can be assured of is this: The unchanging Lord is with us, He loves us, and we can rely on His Word to guide us. Perhaps the unknown is an invitation to lean more into our relationship with Him.
Originally published Tuesday, 14 May 2024.